Plastic squeeze tube squeezer (PSTS)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a Plastic Squeeze Tube Squeezer (PSTS) as a tool to squeeze nearly all the contents (paste like materials e.g. tooth paste) packaged in plastic squeeze tubes. It is observed that some paste like material remains in the many pockets and deformities that are created in the normal use of the plastic squeeze tube. The PSTS mounted from the sealed end of the tube when operated upon provide an efficient means to dispense most of the plastic squeeze tube contents approximately 98%.  
     With the established &amp; growing market in USA of packaging paste type materials in plastic squeeze tubes, the PSTS can be a useful tool in managing the waste. The use of PSTS will benefit the consumer.

[0001] This application claims priority over the provisional application serial No. 60/407,770 filed on Sep. 3, 2002, copy attached. Specification herein and the attached drawings define the Plastic Squeeze Tube Squeezer (PSTS) as a tool invented to squeeze nearly all the contents (paste like) packaged in plastic squeeze tubes e.g. tooth paste or other industrial paste materials packaged in plastic squeeze tube for dispensing purposes.

[0002] For clarity and understanding: Plastic Squeeze Tube referred in the specification and other related document of the Non Provisional application is a plastic tube with one end sealed and the other dispensing end fitted with a screwed plastic cap.

[0003] Generally the plastic squeeze tube is used to dispense paste like materials e.g. commonly packaged toothpaste. While the PSTS is a tool to orderly dispense nearly all the content of the squeeze tube.

[0004] The PSTS shall be made from high-density plastic or metal or metal wire. The PSTS shall slip with ease on to the squeeze tube with little effort and stay mounted on the tube residing on the sealed end of the tube. The slit in the PSTS in which the sealed end of the plastic squeeze tube slides is shown in drawing #1 as being 0.0625. In the prototype it was observed that this opening was adequate for the PSTS to slide easily on the sealed end of an 8 oz tube and exerted proper pressure on the tube collapsed side to remove/push the contents towards the nozzle of the tube as the PSTS travels away from the sealed end. However the slit dimension may have to be modified for varying tube thicknesses from different manufacturers.

[0005] The PSTS is not limited to the plastic squeeze tube, but can be used on aluminum squeeze tubes used in the industry for dispensing paste type materials.

[0006] Attached drawing #1 delineates the PSTS for an 8 oz & for a 6 oz tubes. Scaled drawing has three views, elevation, plan and side view. The drawing provides the actual size of the squeezer for the two tubes mentioned above.

[0007] Attached drawing # 2 delineates an Isometric view showing the PSTS mounted on the squeeze tube. The PSTS can come mounted on the tube from the plant where the tubes are filled or could be packaged separately with the tube in the packaging container. 

1. I claim that the invention, Plastic Squeeze Tube Squeezer (PSTS) is a tool, which can squeeze nearly all the content out of the plastic squeeze tube. It is observed that during the use of the plastic squeeze tube, uneven pressures are exerted/applied from all sides of the tube over the lifetime to dispense the paste. This deforms the tube disorderly and as it crumbles many pockets and unevennesses are created where the paste like material gets trapped. As the useful life of the tube nears the end, it becomes more difficult to extract all the paste out of the tube especially the large plastic squeeze tubes 8 oz or larger (the smaller tubes e.g. 4 oz seems to be managed with ease in dispensing the paste even without the use of PSTS). It is believed consumers discard many tubes with some remaining paste material approximately 10-15%. One solution to avoid the waste could be, to keep the plastic squeeze tube organized by neatly rolling the partially empty tube keeping the contents pushed towards the nozzle like aluminum tubes. Unfortunately the plastic tube spring like tendency prevents from keeping the empty tube rolled in place. Nevertheless with the many advantages of the plastic tube over other materials to dispense paste like materials, its disadvantage to manage with ease the used portion of the tube creates problem in dispensing all the contents of the tube. The PSTS mounted on the tube either from the factory where the tube is filled or by consumer if packaged separately will over come the disadvantage cited above and will dispense nearly all the contents of the tube. It is claimed that the PSTS will provide an efficient means to dispense most of the plastic squeeze tube content approximately 98% (some paste materials approximately 2-4% do remain trapped in the dispensing cap end due to the shape of the tube as it funnels to the screw cap). The installation & operation of PSTS is easy too. The high-density plastic or metal PSTS slips on the tube from the sealed end. Holding the tube in one hand and pushing the PSTS with the right hand fingers the PSTS travels over the empty collapsed tube and collects/gathers all the remaining content trapped in the various pockets of the tube and pushes it towards the dispensing nozzle. With the established and growing market in USA of packaging the paste type material in plastic squeeze tubes, the PSTS can be a useful tool in managing the waste. The inventor believes there can be considerable saving over the years and benefit to the consumer. 